Season’s Over For These 2026s, But Their Careers Shouldn’t Be

Whether it was a first-round exit or missing the playoffs altogether, a large number of the South Carolina Class of 2026 is done playing meaningful football games for their respective high schools.    For these 10 uncommitted players, we don't think that should mean the end of their playing careers.   From the coast to the CSRA, each of these 10 players represent various abilities that should place them in the college ranks. These guys have the right combination of goods: Size, speed, effort, production. Enough of it is there on each one of them.    And come the February signing day, we believe they've already done what it takes to earn a college spot, even if they don't have deep playoff runs to do it again.    [player_tooltip player_id='1823260' first='Jackson' last='Rodgers'] TE/LS, North Central - Rodgers took on the needs of his program, shifting from tight end to tackle for his senior year after some injuries. He took care of business, all while still looking like a tight end handling business. The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl selection had no issue extending his capabilities down field, and on several of them he almost looked like he was employing muscle memory from his tight end days. His opening highlight proved it was never far from his mind, too. As the team's primary long snapper, Rodgers was able to get downfield to haul in a nifty trick play (first play on reel) and/or make stops on returners. Translation: He was a lot of fun to watch while he was playing out of position because effort can't be ignore.    [player_tooltip player_id='1732668' first='Dy'lon' last='White'] OL/DL, Green Sea Floyds - The Trojans had no choice but to preemptively turn down a playoff berth after an already small roster was decimated by injuries. GSF would have had a hard time hanging with Cross (the slated first-round opponent), but it would have been fun to see White do his thing against an experienced and balanced defensive line. The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl pick has been arguably the biggest bright spot for this team for the last two seasons. This fall, he had 75 tackles while often fighting off double and even triple teams and 25 pancakes from his spot at left tackle.     [player_tooltip player_id='2005016' first='Tevies' last='Burroughs'] OL, Georgetown - While the Bulldogs' 0-11 record this year doesn't look too hot, tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1734397' first='Trenton' last='Parker'] didn't pile up his senior-year production without plenty of help from the line. For our money, Burroughs was the biggest influence for Parker. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound tackle has plenty of room for physical growth in a college weight room and while he's probably considered a bit of a project, his frame checks a lot of boxes. As he adds size, any mean streak that comes along with it should open up doors for him to not only be on a college roster, but see valuable snaps within the first two years.     [player_tooltip player_id='1629002' first='Sincere' last='Hubbard'] LB, Chesterfield - It wasn't simply that Hubbard led the Rams in tackles this season (or that he had nearly twice as many as the team's No. 2), it was how he did it. Hubbard, who also played in an H-Back role, was always around the ball. Bolstered by his 153-tackle junior year, Hubbard will graduate with a hair over 400 career stops in 40 games. That's living, breathing proof of not only how relentless he is, but also how durable he has been as a four-year starter. Hubbard's 5-foot-9 frame has held him back some, but there's no reason he shouldn't be inking with someone in February.     [player_tooltip player_id='473015' first='Tyleek' last='Dukes'] RB/DB, Kingstree - Dukes' offseason included a brief flirtation with a transfer out of the program, and it probably didn't do him many favors in his recruitment. But not all of the luster has come off what he was able to do as a four-year starter for the Blazers. The biggest highlight was his junior year in which he ran for 1,798 yards and 21 touchdowns. He didn't replicate those figures as a senior, but some of that also had to do with some other attrition around him. Even if Dukes isn't considered a college tailback, he should be a lock as a multifaceted athlete, with safety leading the charge.     [player_tooltip player_id='1371931' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins'] WR, Conway - Jenkins never reached his full potential with the Tigers, and while we could certainly say his time with hoops, a few minor injuries and some quarterback woes didn't do him any favors, we still see the explosiveness from the lanky receiver that will give him an opportunity to keep playing this game. Jenkins can one-hand the ball out of the air, make defenders miss and had to be used in a capacity that got him used to quick contact after the catch. A college weight routine will further allow him to break other tackles in time and should only add to the athleticism that has been put on display in small doses on the gridiron. In the meantime, he's also got no problem blocking downfield for teammates.     [player_tooltip player_id='1267223' first='Carver' last='Davis'] ATH, Ninety Six - Davis joined our rankings prior to his junior year after showing how many different tools he could put on display back in 2023. This is a guy who can make tackles (34 as a senior), get into the backfield (five tackles for loss), return kicks and punts, do damage as a split back (494 yards, eight touchdowns), cover receivers (three pass break-ups, two interceptions) and haul in receptions (16 catches for 189 yards. Is any of that production by itself all that impressive? Probably not. But when you start seeing how many different spots he can fit into at the next level - and tacking on his 5.0+ GPA - it seems like the three-year varsity starter has done what it takes.    [player_tooltip player_id='1025770' first='Cayden' last='Workman'] LB, Eastside - As a sophomore at Eastside, Workman looked like he was absolutely going to blow up as a linebacker. He finished with 102 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 11 games. But as he never eclipsed the 6-foot mark, the staff was wise to start getting him some looks in other spots. Over the next two seasons, Workman got valuable reps at safety, tailback, receiver and on special teams. At the heart of his all is the violence he brings to his hits. Over his three seasons, Workman 256 tackles in 32 games. Considering all three of his interceptions came as a senior, when he started to play more of a hybrid DB/LB role, we think that's an excellent spot for him at the next level.     [player_tooltip player_id='1820743' first='Victor' last='Smith'] OL/DL, Lexington - After being named to the all-region team as an offensive lineman as a sophomore, Smith didn't play his junior year before returning to the roster this fall. Now 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, he was transitioned to the other side of the line and plugged into the middle of the line. What he was able to do in his one full season on defense was prove he's got more in the tank than most might have expected. Smith is able to divide offensive linemen or simply go through them. He plays one of those positions where the numbers don't always follow, but the teams on Lexington's schedule this certainly remember him being there.     [player_tooltip player_id='1557161' first='Aaron' last='Adams'] DL, Midland Valley (pictured) - There was a short span in the middle of the season when we thought Adams was catching a bit of senioritis. His production dipped and we wondered if the 6-foot-4, 215-pound edge rusher was hitting a wall. That's when he came back with a flourish and proved that all the double teams he was facing weren't going to squash him. After that production dip, he piled up 13 tackles for loss in the final three games of the regular season and finished the regular season with 21 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He did so by mixing up his strength with some sweet juke steps and swim moves that prevented opposing lineman from locking him down, again, often while he was playing two of them at once.

Whether it was a first-round exit or missing the playoffs altogether, a large number of the South Carolina Class of 2026 is done playing meaningful football games for their respective high schools.